Automatic floating disaster marker



March 1956 R. L. PEAY, JR 2,738,524

AUTOMATIC FLOATING DISASTER MARKER Filed April 1, 1955 p pm I INVENTOR. 2:: as w:\- L. PEAY, J2.

United States 2,738,524 KUTOMATIG Fi-JOATINGDISASTERMARKER RobertLnPeay,lnykidgeway, S. C. Application Ape-r1, 1955, Serial No. 498,634 s-cmms. ((31: 9-8) protective means from interfering with the contemplated operation of the cable.

Further objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the invention will appear, as this description progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, is shown one specific form which the invention can assume, and this is given solely by way of example, and in no manner, whatsoever, in a limiting sense.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a device, in accordance with this invention, with parts broken away, to show interior structure;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, of the device;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on line 3--3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device, as attached to a submerged article.

Referring now to the drawings, the device includes a float F, of spool type, having a hollow cylindrical body 5, and two end heads 6 and 7, to form an air tight, closed, device.

In the center of each head, is formed a depressed socket, or dimple 8, and 9, to receive correspondingly shaped, bulged, or button like end portions 10 and 11, on a spring handle 12.

At one end of handle 12, is a tubular collar 13, welded, as at 14, for example, to the handle. Received in collar 13, is a tube 15, carrying a bolt 16, for attaching tube and its connected parts, including handle 12, to an article such as outboard motor 17, which might become sunk, accidentally.

The collar 13 and tube 15, are detachably held together, by a pin with a ring head 19, and a shank 20, passing through holes 21 and 22 and carrying, at its end, a pivoted toggle head 23. A compression, coil spring 24, is trapped between collar 13 and head 19, for holding head 23 against the collar.

Float F is furnished, on body part 5, with a winding, 30, of flexible cable, and this cable, at the float end is attached to the float, in suitable manner, as by tying it around the part 5, as at 25. The cable is then wound around the float part 5, and near the free end, is turned, at right angles to the winding turns, and brought, parallel with the axis of the float, from head 7, to head 6, as indicated at 26. The end of the cable, 27, is tied to eye 19, and this portion 27 is a weather proof leader, and

z the only part of flexible cable that is exposed to the elements,as appears below, I, U A

The stretch of cable at 26;, is lightlyg'lu ed in place On the circular windings, and constitute a tear" strip, for tearing or rupturing a protective layer 28. ofwater; material, as tin? or aluminum. foil which covers the winding, and prevents damage; from the, merits, andis lightly glued impla c e arrest; aids in holding the windings in place. Layer 28 extends from .head ,6 to head 7, for complete protection. of the'winding s 30.

Springhandle 12 is held to the float F, by a: force somewhat less'than the net buoyantforce on the flo'at, when the float is submerged. Thus,., should motor 17 sink, and carry the attached devicegdown with it, F will detach itself from handle 12, a veryshqrt; distance beneath the surface of the water to prevent tangling of the cable, and rise to the water surface, to indicate the position of the sunken motor 17, or other object.

When the float detaches itself from the handle, the pull on cable end 27 causes the tear strip at 26, to tear, or rupture, layer 28, from edge to edge, so that it cannot interfere with the unwinding of the cable, as the float and handle separate.

When the device is not in use, it can be readily stored, by merely turning toggle head 23, and withdrawing the connecting pin, member 15 being left attached to the motor 17, or other object.

The float is made of any suitable material, such as thin metal, or plastic, or it could be made of cork, or the like, and either solid, or not, as desired. The float is to be brightly colored.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic floating disaster marker, for locating sinkable articles, comprising, in combination, a float, a spring handle having a break-down connection to the float and controlled by spring pressure exerted by the handle, a toggle connection for connecting the handle to a sinkable article, and a flexible cable fixed, at one end, to the float, and at the other end to the handle, the break-down strength of the connection between the handle and the float, being somewhat less than the net buoyant force' exerted by the float when it is submerged.

2. An automatic floating disaster marker, for locating sinkable articles, comprising, in combination, a float, a spring handle having a break-down connection to the float and controlled by spring pressure exerted by the handle, a toggle connection for connecting the handle to a sinkable article, and a flexible cable fixed, at one end, to the float, .and at the other end to the handle, the breakdown strength of the connection between the handle and the float, being somewhat less than the net buoyant force exerted by the float when it is submerged, the handle being held to the float by cooperating, spring-pressedtogether, matching depressions and buttons on the handle and float.

3. An automatic floating disaster marker, for locating sinkable articles, comprising, in combination, a float, a spring handle having a break-down connection to the float and controlled by spring pressure exerted by the handle, a toggle connection for connecting the handle to a sinkable article, and a flexible cable fixed, at one end, to the float, and at the other end to the handle, the break-down strength of the connection between the handle and the float, being somewhat less than the net buoyant force exerted by the float when it is submerged, said toggle connection including, a first member fixed to the handle, a second member carrying means for fixing it to a sinkable article, and a pin detachably connecting the first member to the second member.

4. An automatic floating disaster marker, for locating sinkable articles, comprising, in combination, a float, a spring handle having a breakdown connection to the Patented Mar. 20,. 1956v float and controlled by spring pressure exerted by the handle, a toggle connection for connecting the handle to a sinkable article, and a flexible cable fixed, at one end, to the float, and at the other end to the handle, the breakdown strength of the connection between the handle and the float, being somewhat less than the net buoyant force exerted by the float when it is submerged, the float being spool shaped and having a cylindrical body and end heads, the flexible cable being wound around the cylindrical body between the heads in circular turns, a tear section of cable running from the last circular turn, in a straight line from head to head of the spool, and longitudinally of the spool body, the cable, beyond the tear section, having its said connection, to the handle.

5. An automatic floating disaster marker, for locating sinkable articles, comprising, in combination, a float, a spring handle having a break-down connection to the float and controlled by spring pressure exerted by the handle, a toggle connection for connecting the handle to a sinkable article, and a flexible cable fixed, at one end, to the float, and at the other end to the handle, the break-down strength of the connection between the handle and the float, being somewhat less than the net buoyant force exerted by the float when it is submerged, the float being spool shaped and having a cylindrical body and end heads, the flexible cable being wound around the cylindrical body between the heads in circular turns, a tear section of cable running from the last circular turn, in a straight line from head to head of the spool, and longitudinally of the spool body, the cable, beyond the tear section, having its said connection, to the handle, the tear section being lightly glued against the circular turns, and a protective layer of foil covering the cable on the spool, and extending from head to head of the spool, and being lightly glued in place on the spool.

No references cited. 

